TEXT: Hebrews 8:1-6 (Read vv. 1-13)
READING: Isaiah 54:1-17
SUBJ: The mediatorial offices of Christ our Lord and the importance to each of us in the matter of salvation and the experience of it.
AIM: That we might come to know more of His offices as Prophet, Priest, and King and so be the more submitted to Him in these things.
INTR: These thoughts were provoked in reading an abbreviated biography of John Bunyan in which his method in preaching was described. He preached first to the sinful condition of men and then proceeded to show them Christ in His offices as mediator which included Him as Prophet, Priest, and King.
1. Several commentators began with the thought of a mediator (one who would bring conflicting parties together) and saw these offices as functioning in that role.
2. It is essential that we look to the precedents in the O. T. in consideration of these things in that this is presented as better and a more excellent ministry.
3. Paul wrote to Timothy that: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 1 Timothy 2:5-6).”
THESIS: Each of the offices in which Christ appears to us is essential to both our salvation initially and to our continuation in life forever more.
I. Christ our Prophet
1. We are familiar with the O. T. prophets and know the names and exploits of many of them and they were well-known to the Jews as well.
2. When our Jesus asked the disciples concerning who men thought He was, among other things they suggested that He was one of the prophets.
1) Some of these were foretellers and some were forth tellers.
2) The woman at the well called Him a prophet; with the raising of the widow’s some called Him a great prophet.
3) We relate these things to what was seen from the prophets of old.
3. But the primary testimony is found in: “The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. (Deuteronomy 18:15-18).”
4. He showed Himself as having been prophesied notably in Luke 24:25-27 and I Peter 1:10-11.
5. It was He who properly revealed the Father (John 14:9)
6. Consider the times He said “But I say unto you…” Fifteen times in Matthew.
7. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (Hebrews 1:1-2)”
II. Christ our High Priest
1. Again, we compare the O. T. Priests and think of their function:
1) They offered sacrifices, they prayed, they praised in form and in fact often
2) They did so as the representatives of the people so bringing them into the presence of God.
2. But “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. (Hebrews 10:4).” And so, they were continual.
3. His was a completed sacrifice: He entered once (Heb. 9:12); He entered not into holy places made with hands… Rather it was that He entered heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us (Heb. 9:24); now once… hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself; So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.
4. In Hebrews 10 we see such thoughts as “Once for all;” “one sacrifice;” “For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified (10:14).”
5. And so, He is called: “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (Hebrews 4:14).”
6. Our High Priest continually brings us near to God – We remember 7:25!
7. And see Hebrews 10:21-22
III. Christ Our King
1. We consider the O. T. kings, their manner and their functions.
1) Saul as the example of the choice of men and
2) David and Solomon as the choice of God.
3) We witness the actions of good and bad.
2. The monarch was not only the ruler over all in his kingdom; he was also the director of all their affairs and the provider of such guidance as to assure the continuance of their wellbeing.
3. Jesus was born King of the Jews and He preached it:
1) From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 4:17) AND And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. (Matthew 4:23)
2) But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. (Matthew 12:28)
4. He did not rebuke the crowd who hailed Him as King (Luke 19:38); the reply of Nathanael; the prophecy cited when sending the disciples (Zech 9:9): For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. (1 Cor. 15:25).
5. A fuller revelation to come:
1) At His trial: Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. (Matthew 26:64)
2) And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:16).
6. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:10-11)
